Synergistic action of two murine monoclonal antibodies that inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation without blocking fibrinogen binding

Abstract

We have used two murine monoclonal antibodies, each directed against one component of the human platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex, to examine further the molecular requirements for fibrinogen binding to the platelet surface and subsequent platelet-platelet cohesion (aggregation). Although neither AP3, which is directed against GPIIIa, nor Tab, which is specific for GPIIb, were individually able to inhibit adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced fibrinogen binding, platelet aggregation, or secretion, the combination of AP3 and Tab completely abolished platelet aggregation and the release reaction. Unexpectedly, this synergistic inhibition of platelet-platelet cohesion occurred in the presence of apparently normal fibrinogen binding. Both the number of fibrinogen molecules bound and the dissociation constant for fibrinogen binding remained essentially unchanged in the presence of these two antibodies. Inhibition of aggregation was dependent upon the divalency of both AP3 and Tab because substitution of Fab fragments of either antibody for the intact IgG resulted in a complete restoration of both aggregation and secretion. In contrast to ADP induction, thrombin-activated platelets neither aggregated nor bound fibrinogen in the presence of AP3 plus Tab but were fully capable of secretion, which illustrated the multiple mechanisms by which the platelet surface can respond to different agonists. These data demonstrate that fibrinogen binding to the platelet surface alone is not sufficient to support platelet-platelet cohesion and that an additional post-fibrinogen-binding event(s) that is inhibitable by these two monoclonal antibodies may be required.